Problems with previous property

peainapod

I recently moved out of a house (feb 2011). I had lived there just over a year and while I was there the drains got blocked, so much so that a plumber had to come and sort it. I was not told at the time that they would be charging me for this, and assumed that this was maintenance and that I wouldn't be paying for it. After the problem was fixed a couple of weeks later I got a letter from the letting agent saying the landlord had asked them to contact me to tell me that I shouldn't put nappies or sanitary towels down the drain, I called the agency right away and told them that I had never and would never put these things down the toilet, I asked them to tell the landlord this (I dont know if they did).
Today in the post I got some final bills from the old house and also an invoice for £88 odd for the unblocking of the drain !
First of all I thought this was maintenance so I wouldn't be the one to pay, they didn't tell me I would be paying this at the time either. Also the letter I got at the end of my tenancy from the letting agent said that any work that had to be done or parts that had to be bought during my tenancy would be deducted from my bond which it wasn't. They inspected the house and awarded me the whole amount of my bond. I really cannot afford this and can't believe this has come now, so long after ! Can I fight this ? I really do think that this is unfair. Thanks for any help you can give

Matt1977

If that was my invoice, then I wouldn't pay it. They have paid you your bond in full and that should really be the end of it.

Sounds like opportunistic charging to me. Or maybe they forgot to deduct the £88 from the bond? If the agency wants to persue the £88 charge then the onus is on them to prove that you did cause the drain to block through negligence.

If the agent does persist, then let them. It will probably cost them more money, time and effort in the long run. Its time for tenants to stand up to money grabbing letting agents and rogue landlords!

peainapod

Well I rang the agency and was told that the landlord has asked them to forward me the invoice. They say that they no longer do business with the landlord as the landlord took the house back and decided to sell it without the help of the agency. So I should do what ? I was thinking of sending the landlord a letter letting them know that I think its unfair and that I don't intend to pay. Does anyone know what the rules are in this situation ? I thought the same as you Matt1977, that I had my bond back and that's the end of it, is there some rule that says once the tenant has been given their bond back they don't have the right to claim any more money off them ? Thanks

ViolaLass

peainapod wrote: »

I was thinking of sending the landlord a letter letting them know that I think its unfair and that I don't intend to pay.

I wouldn't even bother with that - my instinct would be to ignore it. He had his chance to charge you but chose to release your deposit in full.

BitterAndTwisted

I suspect that what has happened is that the agent instructed the plumber and the landlord has declined to pay the bill. The agents either didn't deduct that bill from the rent collected or forgot to do so. Now that the relationship between the agent and landlord has ended they no longer hold any of the landlord's funds to deduct the bill from. As the agents don't want to bear that cost themselves they have decided that you should pay it.

What would I do? I'd write to the agent, thanking them for sending the bill but point out that any contractual relationship the agent had was with the landlord only, not you, and if they want to be reimbursed they should approach the landlord for settlement whose responsibility this bill was and still is. Tell them that this is your final correspondence and you will not enter into any further discussion about the matter.

peainapod

Yes I've been told to send my letter to the agency and not direct to the landlord, but the thing is that I know it was the landlord who sent the plumber, not the agency, because the agency were going to send a plumber but were told not to because the landlord knew a plumber and was more comfortable in dealing with the one he knew. The agency hasn't told me to send a cheque to them, they've told me that I should contact the landlord to deal with this as they don't deal with this landlord anymore. Sorry its dragging a bit ! Thanks again